66 ELEMENTARY FORESTRY. 



growth is very rapid for a number of years, and then it is 

 often very slow. 



In cutting- with the intention of securing- a renewal of 

 forest growth, in this way the work should be done while the 

 tree is dormant, i. e. between the time when the leaves fall in 

 autumn and the trees start into growth in spring-. The best 

 time in this section is the latter part of winter or early spring-. 



It is, as a rule, desirable that such trees be cut close to 

 the ground so that the sprouts may come out at or just below 

 the surface soil so ihat they may produce new roots and not 

 have to depend throughout life on the old stump. The stump, 

 also, should be cut slanting so as to shed water readily, 

 which will tend to prevent rot and thus help to maintain the 

 vigor of the tree so that the young shoots will be better 

 nourished. 



Pollarding consists in cutting back the side branches of a 

 tree, or cutting oft' the main stem at a few feet from the 

 ground. The branches may be cut off close to the main stem 

 or at a short distance from it, the latter method being prefer- 

 able. New shoots spring from the cuts and these are again 

 cut when of suitable size. What has been said in regard to 

 the season and manner of cutting in the previous paragraphs 

 is practically true here. This process is mostly used in the 

 case of willows and poplars to obtain material for basket 

 work, small poles, fuel, etc. 



Pruning of Forest Trees is generally an expensive operation 

 and little is required if trees are properly crowded when young 

 so that they take on an upright form free from side branches. 

 If they are not crowded when young many side branches are 

 formed which generally die out when the trees get large 

 enough to shade all the ground. In some cases these dead 

 branches drop quickly to the ground, and in others they 

 remain for years, producing knots and irregularity in the 

 wood formed in the meantime and should be removed. Trees 

 grown in the open retain their lower branches more or less 

 throughout life and they produce in consequence timber of 

 inferior value as compared with trees grown in crowded 

 woods. 



Large wounds made by cutting off green branches should 

 be covered. It is often desirable to remove dead branches 



